Acura TL 1999-2003

Comments

Sorry about your transmission problem. I'm wondering whether, if there's a Honda dealer that's closer to you than 100-150 miles away, whether it would be authorized to repair your TL's transmission. I'm suggesting this because, (1) your Acura's transmission may be identical to that of a Honda V6, and, (2) a Honda dealer may charge you less than an Acura dealer. I don't know whether these things are true, but it couldn't hurt to check them out.

If your car is well maintained and runs well, other than for the transmission, it should be worth more than scrap value, regardless of what the used car pricing books may tell you. It would be difficult to replace a good '02 for $4,000 - $4,500.

Transmissions aside, TLs are well designed and well built cars, that can last well over 200,000 miles with proper maintenance and reasonable care.

Everything is negotiable. The dealers, including Honda and Acura, aren't doing that well these days.

I'd begin by asking why they (the Honda dealer) charges a lot more than the Acura dealer. I wouldn't disclose what you were quoted by Acura, other than it's considerably lower than what they quoted, and then only if they ask. You don't owe them any information.

For the record: When my transmission failed 2 years ago ('99 TL, out of extended warranty period but within mileage guidelines), Acura nat'l made me a deal based on my low mileage: I paid about $1,500 and they supposedly comped me 50% (I think it was 50%...not sure now), which would have made it about 3,000 or so for the new tranny. It's been 2 years, and everything's fine. I doubt if there are any cars out there that are within mileage or warranty period for the transmission problems of the old TLs, but it sounds like $3K should be in the sweet spot for a replacement.

I'm original owner of Acura TL type S with 90,000 miles. My trans was replaced at 48,000 miles. This was my first car from Honda & at first, I was disapointed with the make, but they replaced the Trans. and computer & it runs great, love it compared to the new ones. I agree that the 100K timing belt, plugs, water pump $, seem excessive. But I plan to keep it another 50K or more.

In fact my other leased car, I can't wait to turn it back in. It's a large crossover & only get's 20 Miles per gallon on open road & doesn't drive as well as my "old" Acura which doesn't burn oil and gets 28-29 miles per gallon--and it's paid for. LOL

So here's the deal... this past weekend I was driving on the highway when the TCS and Check Engine lights both illuminated simultaneously. Last time this happened, it was a bad ignition coil that needed replacing. About 20 min. later, it felt like someone put my car in neutral, I was on the interstate and my car began to slow, but when I hit the gas, the engine revved but I was still slowing down. Finally when it got down to about 20-25 mph the gears caught again and I was able to get off an exit. When I looked at the bottom frame of the car, there was transmission fluid leaked everywhere. When I checked the transmission fluid itself, it was higher than the normal line, and looked diluted as though something was leaking into it, and it was consequently getting displaced somehow. As I opened up the hood, the transmission itself emanated white smoke for about 5 minutes.

I got the car towed home and about 5 hours later started it back up. It drove as though nothing was wrong, took it up to about 70-75 mph and through each gear and nothing slipped or felt off. I took it into a transmission specialist to get it checked out anyways.

The mechanic told me it looked pretty bad, on the report it said Code 740 - 4th Pressure Switch Failure, and Code 1740 - TC Clutch System Failure. They said they can rebuild the transmission and will get back to me tomorrow on the cost.

A few questions for everyone:

1) Is it worth the rebuild or should I just replace the transmission?2) I have a friend who recently put in a new transmission on a 2000 Accord, is this transmission similar enough to that one?3) If I need to limp the car along for a few weeks before replacing/rebuilding the transmission, would using something like a Lucas Transmission Fluid Stabilizer allow me to do this?

I'm sorry I can't give you good advice on your first and third questions. Regarding your second question, however, the transmission in the 2000 Accord is different from the one in the 2000 Acura TL. The Accord had the old time tested 4-speed automatic, while the TL featured a new 5-speed. The latter was problematic through about '03, with many owners experiencing the symptoms you described.

You didn't mention the mileage on your TL. If it's not too much above 100,000 (can't recall the exact cut-off, but you can probably find it on Google) it's possible that Acura may assist you with part of the expense. It's worth asking them.

Sounds like your pretty familiar with early Acuras. I'm currently driving a 99 Acura TL 3.2. I had the transmission replaced about two months ago by AMMACO. It cost about 2600. Acura wanted 4200 to replace it. Last year I had two motor mounts replaced. This year I had one fuel injector replaced and possibly another going bad. I had the 105,000 mile tune-up early January, hoping that nothing else will go wrong. My milage at this time is 99,780 miles.

I bought the car new at the dealer and had regular maintance at the dealer, but it seems my car is falling apart before 100,000 miles. My car looks almost show room new inside and out. It's been taken care of well. I'm not sure what to expect of it next, other than a possible fuel injector going bad, or the third motor mount going bad.

What do you know about the 99 Acura TL 3.2? Do you know by any chance of any common failures with the 99? I feel bad that the car can't last beyond 100,000 before falling apart. I bought the Acura because of the supposedly high quality so I wouldn't be nickled and dimed to death in it's later years. If it breaks down anymore, I'll have to file for food stamps.

My wife is the original owner of a '99 TL too. Current mileage is 132,500. It also had the motor mounts replaced at about the same mileage that you did. In addition, the catalytic converter went bad at about 98,000. Overall, however, it's been an excellent car. Reliability has been good, and maintenance costs have been reasonable.

If I were you, and you want to keep your cost-per-mile of operation reasonable, I'd keep the '99 TL. Of course, any 13 year old car with >100,000 will have occasional needs. However, depreciation is a major expense with new cars, and your car is close to fully depreciated.

I'm about stuck with keeping the car. I now currently have more money put into the car than what I can get out of it. The transmission was the biggest expense. I have already replaced one fuel-injector and another is apparently going bad. The dealer said to wait for the check light to come on so they could better pin-point it. With that possibility looming, it makes it hard to travel very far out of town.

If I may ask, what was the cost of the catalytic converters cost. Did you get them from the dealership or an independent garage? When they replace the catalytic converter, do they replace the whole exhaust system? The cost of the fuel-injector was about 370. The motor mounts were around 400 each, all done at the dealership. The transmission was done by AMMACO Transmissions, as recommended by the garage to cut cost. That cost 2600.

The outside of the car has no rust-nearly new looking, and the inside is the same. I haven't changed my headlights yet, but that will be soon I suppose.

I should have the receipt for the catalytic converter, so I'll look for it and get back to you. I had it changed by an independent garage that we've used for many years. The rest of the exhaust system is original.

The '99 TL is a well designed and well built car, so if driven with care and serviced, it should give you many more years of service.

Yesterday my check engine light and TCS light came on same time. Also at the same time the engine started running rough. I took the car to autozone and used thier code scanner. It showed that all 6 cylinders were missfiring. The top recomended fix was to replace the Ingition coil. But their are 6 of them. I don't see how all six can go bad at the same time.

Not sure if you've remedied this yet, but I experienced the same thing a few months ago with my 2000 TL. It says that all six are misfiring, but it's basically an SOS for just one.

You need to pinpoint the bum coil with a guess-and-check technique. With the engine running and the transmission in Park, unplug the ignition cable from one of the coils--don't worry, you won't get shocked. Listen for a change in the engine's behavior. If you hear a drop in performance (rougher idle, lower speed), you unplugged a good coil. If there's no change in behavior, congrats--you've found the bad coil. Head back to your nearest AutoZone and pick up a replacement for about $45.00 and relish the fact that you saved about $200 over going to the dealer

I just purchased a 01 tl and the trans dumped on me. The car only has 77,000 miles on it. I bought a used trans off craigslist yesterday for pretty cheap. So my question is, The trans thats in the car is a B7WA and the trans that i bout is a BGFA which turns out is a Acura CL trans. Will that trans work in my car???